Collision Course, Chapter 71
Eve was in her office when there was a knock on the door.
“ Come in.”
“ Hello, Eve.”
“ Father Lonigan.”
“ I heard today was Whitney’s procedure. I thought maybe you could use someone
to talk to.”
“ Father Lonigan, thank you.”, Eve replied as she guided him to the couch.
“ I do need to talk. “
“ Go ahead.”
“ It’s been hard, Father Lonigan. So hard. Some times I think I’m going
to break.”
“ Nonsense, Eve.”
“ Father. Whitney got sick…’I’ knew she was adopted, but I didn’t know who
her birth parents were, and now I find out that she was a result of an AFFAIR
TC had? On top of that, I’ve told TC about Chad, and now I’ve got Julian chomping
at the bit to tell Chad about his paternity.”
“ Eve, you knew that when you claimed your son, the truth about his paternity
would come out.”
“ I know that, but you don’t understand.”
“ I thought you wanted Julian to be involved with Chad. “
“ I thought I did too. Until now, the ramifications never were as clear
as they are now.”
“ Ramifications?”
“ Chad is Julian’s son. Chad is a CRANE – with everything that means. I’m
afraid for my son.”
“ How so?”
“ Father, this isn’t the ordinary circumstance of a young man from humble
beginnings finding out that he’s a member of a wealthy family. If Alistair
had left this alone, and let me raise my son, he would have had good, solid,
middle-class upbringing. We wouldn’t have lived in mansions, but Chad wouldn’t
have wanted for anything, especially love. But, that’s NOT Chad’s story. And,
I don’t think Chad has dealt with it either. He doesn’t know the truth about
who his father is yet. When he finds out the truth…”
“ You don’t think he can handle it.”
“ I think he’s going to be blindsided. I think it could possibly send my
son to a very dark place, and I don’t know how to help him. “
Father Lonigan took Eve’s hand. “ Eve, you’re his mother. You love him.
You support him. He’ll be ok.”
“ Father, I’m not so sure. “
“ You have to have faith.”
Just then there was a knock on the door. A nurse came in. “ Doctor Russell,
you told me to come get you when the OR called.”
“ Thanks….Well, Father, you want to walk me down to the Waiting Room?”
“ Of course.”
Eve and Father Lonigan walked down to the Waiting Room, just as the
doctor came. The entire family gathered around him.
“ Everything went textbook. The next three days are critical. You know that
Whitney will be in complete isolation for that period of time.”
“ Nobody in or out of her room except medical personnel.”, Eve replied
as she nodded.
“ Exactly. You can look at her through the window to her room, but you can’t
visit her.”
“ But, she’ll think she’s all alone.”, Simone said sadly.
“ She can look right out and see you. She’ll know you care.”, the Doctor
replied.
“ Thank you, Doctor.”
“ No problem. Give them about an hour to get Whitney fully settled into
isolation.”
The doctor left, and TC turned to Simone and Chad. “ Why don’t you
two go get something to eat. Or take a walk.”
Chad nodded. “ Simone, let’s go to the Book Café and see if we can
find funny books with pictures that we can put up to the window.”
“ Ok.”
Simone and Chad left, and TC went to Eve and Father Lonigan. “ Thank you
for being here, Father.”
“ No problem, TC. If ever you need to talk.”
“ Thank you, Father.”
“ I’ll be getting back to the church.” Once Father Lonigan left, TC pulled
Eve into a hug.
“ She’s going to be fine, Eve.”
“ You don’t know that. The next 3 weeks will tell the tale. Twenty-one days
of torture. At any time, if her body chooses to reject the bone marrow, then
we will be out of options.”
“ You have to think positively, Eve. Whitney needs that from both of us.”
“ I’m a doctor, TC. I have to think about this in medical terms. I won’t
be able to sleep for the next three weeks.”
“ I’ll be right here with you, you know.”
“ I’m thankful for that.” Eve sighed. “ I know you want to call <i>her</i>.
Go ahead. Give her an update. I’ll be in my office.”
Ethan was at Gwen’s bedside. He gently stroked her hair.
“ They tell me that Whitney came through the procedure fine.”, Ethan said.
“ That’s good. And Gwen?”, Ivy asked.
“ She’ll be asleep for a few more hours.”
“ It must be difficult for her…dealing with Rebecca’s indiscretions.”
Ethan chuckled.”Gwen has a sister she never remotely knew about, and you
call that an indiscretion. Of course, I forgot who was speaking.”
“ I…I thought you had forgiven me.”, Ivy said quietly.
“ You were wrong. I am trying though.”
“ And now Gwen’s stance with Rebecca has made you think twice about that?
That maybe you should join her?”
“ Just the opposite, Mother. Gwen’s hardline stance with Rebecca has made
me think about our relationship and your mistakes. I’m trying and need time,
Mother.”
“ Thank you, Ethan.”
“ Rebecca Hotchkiss.”
“ It’s me.”
“ Thornton.”
“ Both your daughters came through the procedure fine.”
“ You’re sure?”
“ Yes. We won’t know for sure with Whitney for about a month. The critical
phase of her treatment lasts a month. So, if you know how to pray, we’ll need
them for the next thirty days.”
“ I’ll learn how, Thornton. Thank you for calling.”
“ No problem.”